Human spinal column measurement and display system

ABSTRACT

According to a human spinal column measuring and displaying system of the invention, a probe is pinched between the second finger and the third finger of a measuring person, front ends of the fingers are moved from the first thoracic vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra of the spinal column of a measured subject, detaching amounts from reference positions in X, Y and Z directions are detected by three-dimensionally moving the front ends of the fingers. Based on measured data, positions of displaying the vertebrae in correspondence with positions of coordinates in X direction, Y direction and Z direction of the respective vertebrae are moved and a three-dimensional image of the spinal column of the measured subject is generated and the image of the spinal column is displayed on a display screen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a human spinal column measuring anddisplaying system capable of measuring bending of the spinal column ofthe human body by a simple and convenient method and capable ofdisplaying the spinal column on a display screen in a real mode based ona measured value thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

It has conventionally been known that warping or bending of the spinalcolumn effects various influences such as diseases of the internalorgans, the stiffness in the shoulder and the head ache on the humanbody. Therefore, in order to confirm whether bending is present at thespinal column, there are used a manual method of confirming whether thespinal column is bent by examining the spinal column position of thehuman body by touching by a physician of the chiropractic, a method ofusing Moire topography capable of optically recognizing whether a Moirepattern symmetrical in left and right direction is described on thesurface of the human body and a method of using thermography capable ofdetecting temperature of the surface of the human body caused by afailure in blood flow and optically recognizing warping of the body(bending of the spinal column) by a distribution of the temperature.

Further, when it is found that bending is present at the spinal column,an image of the Moire topography or the thermography is made to be seenby a patient and an explanation stating ‘the spinal column is bent tothe right or to the left’ is given from a surface state of the humanbody. Further, in diagnosis by touching, an explanation is orally givento a patient of a result of the diagnosis by touching.

Further, a predetermined treatment is carried out from the surface ofthe human body to the bent spinal column by manual therapy by thephysician to thereby correct or improve the bending of the spinalcolumn.

However, according to the above-described background art method, inexplaining a state of the spinal column given to the patient (measuredsubject), only the oral explanation is given to the patient andtherefore, a specific bent state of the spinal column cannot be known.Further, in order to know a specific degree of the bending of the spinalcolumn from a display content of the image of the Moire topography orthe thermography, skill is required to grasp the display content and itis difficult to know the bent degree of the spinal column simply by anonprofessional person. Further, even when the bent spinal column isdiagnosed by touching and thereafter, a result of carrying out thepredetermined treatment is explained, the diagnosis by touching or thetreatment per se is much dependent on the technique and the experienceof the physician and for the patient (measured subject), even when thedegree of bending of the spinal column of one's own or the degree ofcorrecting the spinal column is explained, it is difficult to understandthe specific state of the bending such as how much which portion of thespinal column is bent in which direction, or how much the bending of thespinal column is corrected after the treatment. That is, in explainingorally of the bent state of the spinal column by the physician, aspecialized expression is given such that, for example, ‘number XX ofthe superior thoracic vertebrae becomes so and so.’ and there poses aproblem that it is difficult to understand how which of the thoracicvertebrae of one's own is bent.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been carried out in view of the above-describedsituation of the background art and it is an object thereof to provide ahuman spinal column measuring and displaying system capable ofcalculating a measured data of three-dimensional coordinates of thespinal column by scanning a predetermined probe along the spinal column,simulating a shape of the spinal column from the measured data anddisplaying a three-dimensional pseudo-image of the spinal column byutilizing computer graphics.

The invention according to Claim 1 relates to a human spinal columnmeasuring and displaying system characterized in comprising a probeprovided at a front end of a scanning arm movable in a longitudinaldirection (X-axis direction), a width direction (Y-axis direction) and athickness direction (Z-axis direction) of the spinal column of ameasured subject and pinched between the second finger and the thirdfinger of a measuring person for detecting detaching amounts fromreference positions in the X, the Y and the Z directions bythree-dimensionally moving front ends of the fingers by moving the frontends of the fingers from a position of the first cervical vertebra or aposition of the first thoracic vertebra to a position of the fifthlumbar vertebra of the spinal column of the measured subject, converteddata storing means for storing respective values of measured data in theX-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction of thedetaching amounts detected by the probe, an input apparatus forinputting the gender and the height of the measured subject, a basicdiagram data stored with an average size and a basic shape of each ofthe vertebrae constituting the spinal column of the human body by thegender and the height of the measured subject, a table of the vertebraefor selecting each of the vertebrae in correspondence with the genderand the height from the basic diagram data in accordance with the genderand the height of the measured subject inputted by the input apparatus,synthesizing means for generating an image of a total of the spinalcolumn constituting a basic based on a size and a shape of each of thevertebrae selected by the table of the vertebrae, and image datagenerating means for generating a three-dimensional image of the spinalcolumn of the measured subject at positions of coordinates in the Xdirection, the Y direction and the Z direction of each of the vertebraeon the image of the spinal column generated by the synthesizing meansbased on the measured data stored to the converted data storing means todisplay the image of the spinal column on a display screen.

The invention according to Claim 2 relates to the human spinal columnmeasuring and displaying system according to Claim 1, characterized inthat the pseudo-image of the spinal column is displayed by moving theimage of the spinal column displayed on the display screen in apredetermined direction or rotating the image by a predetermined anglebased on a predetermined instruction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an outline constitution view of a human spinal columnmeasuring and displaying system according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a coordinates detecting system of thehuman spinal column measuring and displaying system according to theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the display apparatus main body of thehuman spinal column measuring and displaying system according to theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates explanatory views of a behavior of converting ameasure data into a converted data by converting means of the humanspinal column measuring and displaying system according to theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates explanatory views of a basic structure of thevertebra (the fourth thoracic vertebra) constituting the spinal column(the vertebrae) displayed by the human spinal column measuring anddisplaying system according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates explanatory views of a table of the vertebrae of thehuman spinal column measuring and displaying system according to theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a behavior of calculating an anglebetween the vertebrae of the human spinal column measuring anddisplaying system according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates explanatory views of images of the spinal columndisplayed on a display screen of the human spinal column measuring anddisplaying system according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates explanatory views of images of the spinal column (theupper thoracic vertebrae) displayed by an image display apparatus of thehuman spinal column measuring and displaying system according to theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a behavior of converting a measured data bythe display apparatus main body 2 of the human spinal column measuringand displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a behavior of converting the measured data bythe display apparatus main body 2 of the human spinal column measuringand displaying system according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a behavior of displaying a bent state of thegenerated spinal column by using computer graphics based on the measureddata of the human spinal column measuring and displaying systemaccording to the embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An explanation will be given of an embodiment of the invention inreference to the drawings as follows.

FIG. 1 is an outline constitution view of a human spinal columnmeasuring and displaying system according to the invention. In FIG. 1,numeral 1 designates a human spinal column measuring and displayingsystem, numeral 2 designates a spinal column measuring apparatus,numeral 3 designates a probe for scanning the spinal column from thesurface of the human body, numeral 4 designates a vertical support arm,numeral 5 designates a parallel support arm, numeral 6 designates ameasuring direction support arm (a scanning arm is constituted by thevertical support arm 4, the parallel support arm 5 and the measuringdirection support arm 6), numeral 7 designates a measuring couch,numeral 8 designates a coordinates detecting apparatus, numeral 9designates a display apparatus main body, numeral 10 designates anoutput apparatus and numeral 11 designates a display screen.

The probe 3 is for scanning the spinal column of the patient (measuredsubject) from above the surface, a shape thereof is constituted by aninverse T-like shape and a bottom portion thereof is constituted by aslightly recessed shape to be in line with recesses and projections ofthe spinal column. Further, according to the embodiment, the probe 3includes a sensor (a magnetic scale type digital sensor).

That is, the probe 3 is pinched between the second finger and the thirdfinger of a measuring person and front ends of the second finger and thethird finger are brought into contact with a measured subject to movealong the spinal column from a position of the first cervical vertebraor a position of the first thoracic vertebra (the root of the neck) to aposition of the fifth lumbar vertebra of the spinal column of themeasured subject to measure the bent state of the spinal column by amoving amount (detaching amount) thereof.

The vertical support arm 4 is provided with the probe 3 at a lower frontend thereof and is provided to be movable along recesses of projectionsof the spinal column in a thickness direction of the breast (Z-axisdirection).

The parallel support arm 5 is provided with the vertical support arm 4provided with the probe 3 to be movable in a width direction of the back(Y-axis direction).

The measuring direction support arm 6 is provided with the parallelsupport arm 5 movably in a longitudinal direction of the spinal column(X-axis direction) and is provided at one side portion of the measuringcouch 7 in line with a longitudinal direction thereof.

The measuring couch 7 is constituted by a size of a width of about 600mm, a length of about 1800 mm and a height of about 500 mm by which thepatient (measured subject) can lie on one's head. The measuring couch 7is for accurately measuring the spinal column when the spinal column ofthe patient (measured subject) is brought into a constant state byletting the patient (measured subject) lie on one's face at apredetermined position of the measuring couch 7 and the probe 3 isscanned above the spinal column.

That is, the measuring couch 7 is constituted such that in measuring thebent state of the spinal column of the patient (measured subject) lyingon the measuring couch 7, when the measuring person holds the probe 3 bythe hand to move from the neck in the direction of the waist above thesurface of the spinal column, the probe 3 follows recesses andprojections and shifts in left and right direction by the verticalsupport arm 4, the parallel support arm 5 and measuring directionsupport arm 6 within a range of, for example, 900 mm in X direction, 400mm in Y direction and 200 mm in Z direction.

According to the embodiment, the coordinates detecting apparatus 8 isattached to the measuring direction support arm 6 and counts movingamounts in X direction, Y direction and Z direction of the probe 3 aspredetermined pulse signals by, for example, an encoder (24 bits up anddown counter board (PCN24-4 (PCI))) and detects coordinate values anddigital values when the coordinate values coincide with count comparisonvalues arbitrarily set for the respective coordinates. Further, detectedmeasured data is transmitted to the display apparatus main body 9.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the coordinates detecting apparatus 8and the coordinates detecting apparatus 8 includes respective channels(ch0, ch1, ch2) 8 a, 8 b and 8 c of X-coordinate axis, Y-coordinate axisand Z-coordinate axis, a hexadecimal display portion 8 d for detectingand displaying hexadecimal data, a decimal display portion 8 e fordetecting and displaying decimal data and a status 8 f for detecting anddisplaying counts of coordinates values at each 0.1 second.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the display apparatus main body 9 fordisplaying the bent state of the spinal column and is connected with theinput apparatus 10 and the display screen 11.

In FIG. 3, numeral 12 designates measured data storing means for storinga measured data of a digital value converted by the coordinatesdetecting apparatus 8, numeral 13 designates converting means forconverting the measured data stored to the measured data storing means12 by a predetermined conversion procedure, numeral 14 designatesconverted data storing means for storing a converted data converted bythe converting means 13, numeral 15 designates basic diagram data storedwith image data of a basic model of the vertebrae, numeral 16 designatesdata of a table of the vertebrae which is referred to when a spinalcolumn image is formed by the converted data, numeral 17 designatessynthesizing means for forming an image of the vertebrae of the measuredsubject based on the converted data and numeral 18 designates image datagenerating means for generating the respective vertebrae formed by thesynthesizing means 17 for the spinal column.

According to the embodiment, the display apparatus main body 9 is, forexample, a personal computer executing predetermined operation based onthe measured data transmitted from the spinal column measuring apparatus2 and forming an image data displaying the state of the spinal column inreal mode.

For example, according to the embodiment, as a personal computer,PowerMac 7100/66AV of Apple corporation is used and as a microprocessor9 a having ROM9 b and RAM9 c constituting storing means, PowerPC601 of66 MHz is mounted. Further, an image processing is carried out by animage processing software program of three-dimensional computer graphics(for example, Adobe Premire 3.0) executed by the microprocessor 9 a.

The input apparatus 10 is a keyboard or a mouse connected to the displayapparatus main body 9 for inputting information of a height or the likeof the measured subject of the spinal column.

The display screen 11 is a CRT display screen or a liquid crystaldisplay screen for displaying the measured state of the spinal column byan image in a real mode.

The measured data storing means 17 is stored with a digital measureddata transmitted from the coordinates detecting apparatus 8 ascoordinate values in X direction, Y direction and Z direction.

The converting means 13 is for converting the measured data stored inthe measured data storing means 17 into the converted data by apredetermined method.

The converted data storing means 14 is stored with a result ofconverting the measured value by the converting means 13 as theconverted data.

That is, the X-axis direction is constituted by a moving direction ofthe measuring and scanning means 3 from the head to the waist of thehuman body along the frame 2 b, the Y-axis direction is constituted by adirection of moving the measuring and scanning means 3 in up and downdirection along recesses and projections of the spinal column of thehuman body and the Z-axis direction is constituted by a movingdirections of the measuring and scanning means 3 in the width directionsof the human body along ‘bending’ or the like of the spinal column ofthe human body.

FIG. 4 illustrates explanatory views of a behavior of converting themeasured data into a converted data by the converting means 13.

That is, FIG. 4 (a) is the measured data stored to the measured datastoring means 12 and is the measured data respectively in X direction, Ydirection and Z direction from left. By dividing X direction (lengthdirection of the spinal column) for each 1 mm by the converting means13, there are detected ‘009’ which is a maximum coordinate value in Xdirection from ‘001’ to ‘009’, ‘019’ which is a maximum thereof from‘011’ to ‘019’, . . . , ‘4469’ which is a maximum thereof from ‘4461’ to‘4469’ and a final data ‘4476’, that is, values in X direction of ‘009’,‘019’, . . . , ‘4469’, ‘4476’ and the coordinate values in X direction,Y direction and Z direction are temporally stored to a memory (RAM orthe like) (refer to FIG. 4( b)).

The measured data detected in this way is a numerical value a lowerfirst number of which is equal to or smaller than a decimal point andsince an error in measurement is conceivable to include, an integer isprovided by rounding down numbers below the decimal point.

Further, as shown by FIG. 4( b), a coordinate value in X direction, acoordinate value in Y direction and a coordinate value in Z directionconstituting an initial measured data is (X, Y, Z)=(009, 0002, 0044) andwhen numbers below the decimal point of the measured data are roundeddown, (X, Y, Z)=(0, 0, 4) Next, (X, Y, Z)=(019, 0004, 0049) becomes (X,Y, Z)=(1, 0, 4) successively, (X, Y, Z)=(029, 0005, 0053) becomes (X, Y,Z)=(2, 0, 5) and a final measure data (X, Y, Z)=(4476, 0212, 0488)becomes (X, Y, Z)=(447, 21, 48) which are respective values respectivelyconverted into integers (refer to FIG. 4( c)).

Further, the converted respective values are stored to the converteddata storing means 14 as converted data based on the measured data.

Next, since a number of the vertebrae constituting the spinal column ofthe human body is determined, the length of the spinal column is changedby a height difference or the like. Hence, an average measured valuedata constituting the base is previously stored as the vertebrae table16. Further, when the shape of the vertebrae is stored to the basicdiagram data 15 as a basic model and a simulation of the spinal columnof the measured subject is carried out by reflecting the converted databased on the measured value to the vertebrae table 16 and the basicdiagram data 15, a pseudo-spinal column can be displayed as an image ina real mode and, for example, it can be known which vertebra is aportion at which the spinal column is bent.

The basic diagram data 15 is an image data of shapes of the vertebraecomprising the cervical vertebrae (7 pieces), the thoracic vertebrae (12pieces), the lumbar vertebrae (5 pieces), the sacral vertebrae (5pieces) and coccygeal vertebrae (5 pieces). As the basic structure ofthe vertebrae, the vertebrae are contiguous to each other in up and downdirection by interposing the intervertebral disks on the berry side,having clearances (the vertebra holes) passing the spiral cord andsurrounded by the bones on the back side and having thorn projections onthe rear side.

FIG. 5 illustrates explanatory views of the basic structure of thevertebra (the fourth thoracic vertebra) constituting the spinal column(spine).

FIG. 5 (a) is a shape of an upper face of the vertebra 15 comprising byrespectively forming the vertebra body 15 a which is rounded, thevertebra hole 15 b on the back side, the lamina roots 15 c on both sideportions of the vertebra hole, the thorn projection 15 d at the centerof the backside and the lateral projections 15 e at both side portionsthereof and forming the upper joint projections 15 f continuous to othervertebra on skewed upper sides (back side direction) on both sideportions of the vertebra hole 15 b.

FIG. 5 (b) shows a shape of a lower face of the vertebra 15 andconstituted by forming the lower joint projections 15 b continuous toother vertebra on skewed lower sides (directions from the back side tothe berry side) on both side portions of the vertebra hole 15 b.

FIG. 5 (c) shows a shape of a left side face of the vertebra 15 which isformed by the lower vertebra cut marks 15 h chipped off in asemicircular shape on the lower side of the vertebra hole 15 b, lowerrib cavities 15 i on both lower sides on the berry side of the lowervertebra cutting marks 15 h, the upper rib cavities 15 j on both uppersides of the lower rib cavities and the laterally projected rib cavities15 k at front end portions of the lateral projections 15 e.

Further, the image data of the respective vertebrae constituting suchshapes are stored to the basic diagram data 15.

According to the embodiment, the vertebrae table 16 is constituted bytabulating, for example, average measured values (±standard deviations)of the vertebrae of a Japanese adult male person and average measuredvalues (±standard deviations) of the vertebrae of a Japanese adultfemale person.

FIG. 6 shows the average measured values of the vertebrae as thevertebrae table 16, FIG. 6( a) shows measured values of the vertebrae ofa Japanese adult female person (age : 26 years), for example, averagevalues (±standard deviations) of berry side heights thereof are 12.93mm±1.45 mm for the third cervical vertebra, 12.24 mm±1.21 mm for thefourth cervical vertebra, . . . , 15.12 mm±1.12 mm for the firstthoracic vertebra, . . . , 22.33 mm±1.91 mm for the twelfth thoracicvertebra, 23.39 mm±1.80 mm for the first lumbar vertebra, . . . , 25.15mm±2.29 mm for the fifth lumbar vertebra, showing respectives of backside heights, upper face arrow shape diameters, lower face arrow shapediameters, upper face lateral diameters and lower face lateral diametersfor the third cervical vertebra through the fifth lumbar vertebra.

FIG. 6 (b) shows average measured values of the vertebrae of a Japaneseadult female person (age : 26 years), similarly, average values(±standard deviations) of berry side heights are 12.28 mm±1.23 mm forthe third cervical vertebra, 11.61 mm±1.17 mm for the fourth cervicalvertebra, , 14.89 mm±1.23 mm for the first thoracic vertebra, , 22.10mm±1.8 mm for the twelfth thoracic vertebra, 23.76 mm±1.94 mm for thefirst thoracic vertebra, , 24.85 mm±2.11 mm for the fifth lumbarvertebra, showing respectives of back side heights, upper face arrowshape diameters, upper face lateral diameters, and lower face lateraldiameters for the third cervical vertebra through the fifth lumbarvertebra.

Further, the vertebrae tables 16 are formed and stored for respectivemale and female persons.

The synthesizing means 17 provides a pseudo-image of the spinal columnin a real mode by reflecting sizes in accordance with the vertebraetable 16 to images of shapes of the respective vertebrae stored to thebasic diagram data 15. That is, among the respective vertebrae stored tothe basic diagram data 15, for example, the third thoracic vertebra isdisposed on the upper side of the fourth thoracic vertebra byinterposing the intervertebral disk and the upper joint projection 15 fof the fourth thoracic vertebra and the lower joint projection 15 g ofthe third thoracic vertebra are continuous to each other. Further, whenthe first cervical vertebra through the coccyx are successivelysynthesized such that the second thoracic vertebra is disposed on theupper side of the third thoracic vertebra and the first thoracicvertebra is disposed on the upper side, the image of the spinal columnis formed.

That is, the data stored to the vertebrae table 16 is constituted byaverage values of Japanese taking into account standard deviations andbased on the gender and height, by sizes of 17 pieces of the vertebraefrom the first thoracic vertebra at start of measurement through thefifth lumbar vertebra (actual display is 24 pieces of the first cervicalvertebra through the fifth lumbar vertebra), the basic diagram data 15is selected to combine to provide the image of the spinal column of thebasic model.

According to the embodiment, the image data generating means 18generates an image data of a state of the spinal column of theindividual measured subject by reflecting the converted data (measureddata) to the shape of the spinal column constituting the basic formed bythe synthesizing means 17.

That is, as described above, in the converted data (measured data), foreach 1 mm in X direction which is the longitudinal direction of thespinal column, positions in Y direction which is the width direction ofthe back and Z direction which is the thickness direction of the breastare measured and the converted data (measured data) are divided toallocate to the respective vertebrae. Then, it is determined that whatmm to what mm of X values correspond to ‘the number×lumbar vertebra’.

Further, the image data of the spinal column can be displayed byrotating the image of the spinal column in a predetermined directionwhen the coordinates of the view point are changed by utilizing theabove-described image processing software program of thethree-dimensional computer graphics executed by the microprocessor 9 a.

FIG. 7 illustrates explanatory views showing a behavior of calculatingangles among the vertebrae, FIG. 7 (a) is an explanatory view showing abent angle in left and right direction between the vertebrae and FIG. 7(b) is an explanatory view showing a bent angle in front and backdirections there between.

When as shown by FIG. 7 (a), for example, the third lumbar vertebra isdesignated by notation B1, the intervertebral disk is designated bynotation T and the second lumbar vertebra is designated by notation B2,the bent angle can be calculated from Y value in correspondence with theportion of the second lumbar vertebra and Y value in correspondence withthe portion of the third lumbar vertebra of the converted data (measuredata) divided into the respective vertebrae. That is, when the spinalcolumn is not bent, since the spinal column is not inclined to either ofleft and right and therefore, all of Y values become ‘0’, further, forexample, when the second lumbar vertebra is inclined to right, Y valueis measured as ‘1’ or ‘2’ and when the second lumbar vertebra isinclined to left, Y value is measured as ‘−1’ or ‘−2’.

When the converted data (measure data) is reflected to the basic modelof the spinal column, it is calculated that there is brought about aninclination of an amount of an angle θ1 between center C1 of the thirdlumbar vertebra and center C2 of the second lumbar vertebra and theimage of the vertebrae is generated by deforming the intervertebraldisks T.

Next, when as shown by FIG. 7 (b), similar to the above-described, thethird lumbar vertebra is designated by notation B1 and the second lumbarvertebra is designated by notation B2, the image of the vertebrae can beprovided from Z value in correspondence with the portion of the secondlumbar vertebra and Z value in correspondence with the portion of thethird lumbar vertebra of the converted data (measured data) divided tothe respective vertebrae.

That is, in the case of the lumbar vertebrae, when there the secondlumbar vertebra (C4) is inclined relative to the third lumbar vertebra(C3) to the back side by ‘9.27 degrees’ in the basic model in which Zvalue is ‘−10’(according to the embodiment, with respect to a planecomprising X coordinates and Y coordinates, this side is indicated asplus and depth side is indicated as minas), is normal and in contactthereto, when Z value of the converted data (measured data) is ‘−7’, aninclination θ2 between C3 and C4 is calculated as, for example, ‘5.06degrees’.

By providing inclinations provided in this way to the spinal columnimage of the basic model, the original state of the spinal column basedon the gender and height of the measured subject is generated as imagedata.

Further, the provided image data is displayed as a pseudo-image of thespinal column on the display screen 11 connected to the displayapparatus main body (personal computer) 9 by utilizing thethree-dimensional computer graphics.

FIG. 8 illustrates images of the spinal column generated by measuringthe spinal column by the human spinal column measuring and displayingsystem 1 and based on the measured data.

FIG. 8 (a) shows an image of the spinal column on the backsidegenerating a total of the measured spinal column and displaying thespinal column from the back side and FIG. 1 (b) shows an image of thespinal column on the left side generating the total of the measuredspinal column and displaying the spinal column on the left side.

As shown by FIG. 8 (a), the total of the spinal column is divided intothe cervical vertebrae portion, the superior thoracic vertebrae, themiddle thoracic vertebrae, the inferior thoracic vertebrae, the lumbarvertebrae, the sacral vertebrae and the coccygeal vertebrae anddisplayed respectively by being classified by colors according to theembodiment. For example, by displaying to classify by colors such thatthe cervical brae is ‘white’ the superior thoracic vertebrae is ‘red’,the middle thoracic vertebrae is ‘blue’, the inferior thoracic vertebraeis ‘green’, the lumbar vertebrae is ‘yellow’ and the sacral vertebraeand the coccygeal vertebrae are ‘gray’, it can easily be recognizedoptically where is the portion at which the spinal column is bent and inwhich direction the spinal column is bent. Further, since the image datafor displaying the spinal column is image data of the three-dimensionalcomputer graphics, an image of the spinal column in which thecoordinates of the view point are changed by the image data generatingmeans 18 and the image of the spinal column on the left side as shown byFIG. 8 (b) can be displayed.

Further, when it is considered that, for example, ‘bending of thesuperior thoracic vertebrae is abnormal’, only the superior thoracicvertebrae can be displayed.

In a state in which the images of FIG. 8 (a) and FIG. 8 (b) aredisplayed, by depressing predetermined keys (for example, ‘UP key (↑)’or ‘DOWN key (↓)’) provided at the input apparatus 10, the display canbe switched to display of only the superior thoracic vertebrae.

FIG. 9 illustrates images of the spinal column generating to displayonly the superior thoracic vertebrae in the spinal column displayed byFIG. 8, FIG. 9 (a) is an explanatory view generating to display an imageof the spinal column on the back side of the superior thoracicvertebrae, FIG. 9 (b) is an explanatory view generating to display animage of the spinal column on the left side of the superior thoracicvertebrae, FIG. 9 (c) is an explanatory view generating to display animage of the spinal column on the front side of the superior thoracicvertebrae and FIG. 9 (d) is an explanatory view generating to display animage of the spinal column on the right side of the superior thoracicvertebrae, respectively.

FIG. 9 (a) is the explanatory view generating to display the image ofthe spinal column on the back side of the superior thoracic vertebrae,displaying the first thoracic vertebra, the second thoracic vertebra,the third thoracic vertebra and the fourth thoracic vertebra referred toas the superior vertebrae in the thoracic vertebrae and the fifththoracic vertebra disposed on the lower side of the fourth thoracicvertebra.

Further, along with the image of the superior thoracic vertebrae, abending angle in front and rear direction and a bending angle in leftand right direction may be calculated, for example, with regard to thebending angle in front and back direction, an explanation of the bendingangle in front and back direction may be displayed such that the bendingangle of the first thoracic vertebra relative to the second thoracicvertebra is ‘angle of the first thoracic vertebra→ the second thoracicvertebra=2.85 degrees to the front side’, . . . , the bending angle ofthe fourth thoracic vertebra relative to the fifth thoracic vertebra is‘angle of the fourth thoracic vertebra→the fifth thoracic vertebra=10.86degrees to the front side’. Similarly, with regard to the bending anglein left and right direction, the bent state of the spinal column may bedisplayed by displaying an explanation of the bending angle between thethoracic vertebrae such that the bending angle of the first thoracicvertebra relative to the second thoracic vertebra is ‘angle of the firstthoracic vertebra→the second thoracic vertebra=3.00 degrees to theleft’, . . . , the bending angle of the fourth thoracic vertebrarelative to the thoracic vertebra is ‘angle of the fourth thoracicvertebra→the fifth thoracic vertebra=5.40 degrees to the right side’.

Further, in a state of displaying the image of the spinal column on theback side of the superior thoracic vertebrae as shown by FIG. 9 (a), bydepressing a predetermined key (for example, ‘RIGHT key (→) ’ or ‘LEFTkey (→)’) provided at the input apparatus 10, the view point can bechanged and an image rotating the currently displayed superior thoracicvertebrae can be displayed.

For example, in a state of displaying the image of the spinal column onthe back side of the superior thoracic vertebrae of FIG. 9 (a), when‘LEFT key (←)’ is depressed, as shown by FIG. 9 (b), the image of thespinal column on the left side constituted by rotating the back side ofthe superior thoracic vertebrae in the right direction by 90 degrees isdisplayed and similar to the above-described, the bending angle in frontand back direction and bending angle in left and right direction arecalculated to respectively display.

Successively, in a state of displaying the image of the spinal column onthe left side of the superior thoracic vertebrae as shown by FIG. 9 (b),by depressing the predetermined key ‘LEFT key ←)’ provided at the inputapparatus 10, as shown by FIG. 9 (c), the image of the spinal column onthe front side constituted by rotating the left side of the superiorthoracic vertebrae by 90 degrees further in the right direction isdisplayed and similar to the above-described, the bending angle in frontand back direction and the bending angle in left and right direction arerespectively displayed and by further depressing ‘LEFT key (←)’, asshown by FIG. 9 (d), the image of the spinal column on the right sideconstituted by rotating the front side of the superior thoracicvertebrae by 90 degrees further in the right direction.

Further, in a state of displaying the image of FIG. 8 (a) or FIG. 8 (b),when a predetermined key (for example, ‘DOWN key (↓)’) provided at theinput apparatus 10 is depressed, the display can be switched to displayof only the middle thoracic vertebrae and similar to theabove-described, the bending angle in front and back direction and thebending angle in left and right direction can be calculated to displaysuch that with regard to the bending angle in front and back direction,the bending angle of the sixth thoracic vertebra relative to the fifththoracic vertebra is ‘angle of the fifth thoracic vertebra→the sixththoracic vertebra=2.73 degrees to the back side’, . . . , the bendingangle of the ninth thoracic vertebra relative to the eighth thoracicvertebra is ‘angle of the eighth thoracic vertebra↓the ninth thoracicvertebra=7.58 degrees to the front side’ and so on.

Further, when ‘DOWN key (↓)’ is depressed, only the inferior thoracicvertebrae are displayed, further, when ‘DOWN key (↓)’ is depressed, onlythe lumbar vertebrae are displayed.

That is, according to the display apparatus main body, by forming theimage of the spinal column based on the basic diagram data 15 and thevertebrae data table 16, reflecting bending by the measured data theretoand displaying the vertebrae of the portion by moving coordinatesthereof in a predetermined direction, a total or a portion of the spinalcolumn as shown by FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 (a) is displayed on the back side,by depressing the predetermined key, a state of moving the view point by90 degrees is simulated to display and a pseudo-spinal column such asthe spinal column on the left side of FIG. 9 (b), the spinal column onthe front side of FIG. 9( c) or the spinal column on the right side ofFIG. 9( d) can be displayed.

In this way, it can easily be recognized optically how which vertebra isbent in the plurality of vertebrae constituting the spinal column.

Next, an explanation will be given of a behavior of measuring the stateof the spinal column of the human body and three-dimensionallydisplaying the state by the computer graphics by the human spinal columnmeasuring and displaying system 1 of the invention in reference toflowcharts of FIG. 10 through FIG. 12.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a behavior of measuring a state of the spinalcolumn of a patient (measured subject).

In order to measure the state of the spinal column of the patient(measured subject), power source is switched on to the measuring anddisplaying system, the patient (measured subject) is made to lie onone's head to prepare measurement (step S1).

According thereto, preparation is finished when values displayed in thecoordinates detecting apparatus 8, for example, X value and Y valuebecome ‘0’ or ‘1’ when the power source is inputted thereto.

Further, it is checked whether the preparation is finished (step S2),when the preparation is not finished, the operation returns to theprocessing of step S1 to carry out preparation. When the preparation isfinished, the measuring person holds the probe 3 by the hand to move todirection of the head of the patient (measured subject) to arrange onthe spinal column on the side of the cervical vertebrae of the patient(measured subject) to move along on the spinal column toward the side ofthe lumbar vertebrae (step S3).

When the probe 3 is moved, recesses and projections and a degree ofbending of the spinal column are detected as X value, Y value and Zvalue (step S4). The detected measured data is transmitted to thedisplay apparatus main body 9 (step S5). Further, it is determinedwhether the measurement is finished (step S6) and when the measurementis finished, the processings are finished. When the measurement is notfinished yet, the operation returns to the processing of step S3 and theprobe 3 is moved successively on the spinal column.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a behavior of converting the measured data bythe display apparatus main body 9.

Successively, receiving the measured data (step S7) the displayapparatus main body 9 stores the measured data to the measured datastoring means 12 (step S8) and calculates a maximum value from data inwhich X value of the measured data is equal to or smaller than 1 mm bythe converting means 13 (step S9). Since lower first number of themaximum value is below the decimal point and therefore, the decimalpoint is marked and the data is converted by a unit of mm (Step S10).Here, the value below the decimal point is considered as an error inmeasurement and therefore, the number below the decimal point of themeasured data is rounded off to constitute an integer (step S11). Themeasured data converted into an integer is stored to the converted datastoring means 14 (step S12).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a behavior of displaying the bent state of thegenerated spinal column by using the computer graphics based on themeasured data.

In order to display the state of the spinal column by using the computergraphics, predetermined instruction is inputted from the input apparatus15 of a mouse or the like connected to the spinal column measuringapparatus 2 (step S13) and when instruction is not carried out, theprocessings are finished.

When display is instructed, the converted data (measured data) is readfrom the converted data storing means 14 (step S14), the image data ofthe basic model of the spinal column based on gender and height of themeasured subject is formed in reference to the basic diagram data 15 andthe vertebrae table 16 based on the image processing software programpreviously set to the display apparatus main body 9 (step S15), thethree-dimensional spinal column image data of the measured subject isgenerated by reflecting the converted data (measured data) to thethree-dimensional spinal column image data of the basic model (step S16)and is displayed on the display screen 11 (step S17).

When the image of the three-dimensional pseudo-spinal column isdisplayed on the display screen 11, here, it is determined whether theprocessings are finished (step S18) and when a finish key is depressed,the processings are finished.

Other than optically recognizing bending in left and right direction bydisplaying the image of the spinal column generated in this way from theback side, the image of the spinal column is displayed from left andright sides such that bending in front and back direction can opticallybe recognized, when an arrow mark key (→or ←) is depressed (step S19),the image of the spinal column is displayed by moving the view point by90 degrees in a predetermined direction (step 20), when UP key isdepressed (step S21), it is determined whether the upper most portion(the superior thoracic vertebrae portion) is displayed (step S22) andwhen the upper most portion is displayed, since a further upper sidecannot be displayed, a current displayed portion is displayed as it isand in the case in which the upper most potion is not displayed, aportion above the currently displayed portion is displayed (step S23).

Further, when DOWN key is depressed (step S24), it is determined whetherthe lower most potion (the lumbar vertebrae portion) is displayed (stepS25), when the lower most portion is displayed, since a further lowerside cannot be displayed, the currently displayed portion is displayedas it is and when the lower most potion is not displayed, a portionbelow the currently displayed portion is displayed (step S26).

That is, in order to measure to display the bent state of the spinalcolumn by utilizing the human spinal column measuring and displayingsystem 1 of the invention, gender and height of the patient (measuredsubject) are needed, further, a state before treatment (symptom of theneck, the shoulder, the back, the waist or the like) is provided bydiagnosis by question or description of a preparatory diagnosis leaf.

Further, the state of the spinal column is measured as described aboveand displayed on the display screen 11 by the three-dimensional computergraphics.

An explanation is given to the patient (measured subject) while lettingthe patient see the displayed image of the spinal column and a treatmentis carried out of the spinal column of a portion which is bent incomparison with the normal state. When the treatment is finished, thestate of the spinal column is measured again and the pseudo-spinalcolumn is displayed on the display screen 11 by the three-dimensionalcomputer graphics.

Further, the states of the spinal column before treatment and aftertreatment can be seen to compare by the images displayed on the displayscreen 11 or the images outputted to print.

By displaying the bent state of the spinal column before treatment andafter treatment by the pseudo-spinal column images, both of thephysician and the patient (measured subject) can easily be informed ofthe bent state of the spinal column.

Further, although according to the embodiment, an explanation has beengiven by constituting the probe by the inverse-T like shape, the shapeis not particularly limited so far as the probe can be scanned above thespinal column.

Further, although according to the embodiment, an explanation has beengiven such that the image of the vertebrae is generated by readingcorrespondent data from the basic diagram data and the vertebrae tablein order to constitute the image of the vertebrae of the measuredsubject, the image of the vertebrae in correspondence with height andgender of the measured subject may be provided as a data base and so faras the vertebrae of each measured subject can be displayed, a style or astoring method of data for visualizing the vertebrae to form the imageis not particularly limited.

Further, although according to the embodiment, an explanation has beengiven such that an image of the spinal column is displayed by thethree-dimensional computer graphics and the view point is moved by 90degrees, the view point may be moved by 45 degrees and a range of movingthe view point is not particularly limited.

Industrial Applicability

As has been explained above, according to the human spinal columnmeasuring and displaying system of the invention, in what state thespinal column is bent can optically be recognized by the pseudo-threedimensional image by the simple and convenient method of scanning theprobe on the surface above the spinal column of the measured subject wholies on one's face.

Thereby, there is achieved an advantage that the physician can easilygive explanation by explaining how much is the degree of bending thespinal column before treatment and after treatment in reference to theimage.

Further, the patient who is the measured subject can easily understandhow and in which way which portion of the spinal column of one's own isbent since the state of the spinal column similar to the actual spinalcolumn can optically be recognized not by specialized medicalterminology but as the image.

1. A human spinal column measuring and displaying system comprising: aprobe provided at a front end of a scanning arm movable in alongitudinal X-axis direction, a width Y-axis direction and a thicknessZ-axis direction of the spinal column of a measured subject and pinchedbetween the second finger and the third finger of a measuring person fordetecting detaching amounts from reference positions in the X, the Y andthe Z axes-directions by three-dimensionally moving front ends of thefingers from a position of the first cervical vertebra or a position ofthe first thoracic vertebra to a position of the fifth lumbar vertebraof the spinal column of the measured subject; converted data storingmeans for storing respective values of measured data in the X-axisdirection, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction of thedetaching amounts detected by the probe; an input apparatus forinputting a gender and a height of the measured subject; a readablemedium comprising basic diagram data stored with an average size and abasic shape of each of the vertebrae constituting the spinal column ofthe human body by the gender and the height of the measured subject; areadable medium comprising a table of the vertebrae for selecting eachof the vertebrae in correspondence with the gender and the height fromthe basic diagram data in accordance with the gender and the height ofthe measured subject inputted by the input apparatus; synthesizing meansfor generating an image of a total of the spinal column constituting abasic image based on a size and a shape of each of the vertebraeselected by using the table of the vertebrae; and image data generatingmeans for generating a three-dimensional image of the spinal column ofthe measured subject at positions of coordinates in the X direction, theY direction and the Z direction of each of the vertebrae on the basicimage of the spinal column generated by the synthesizing means based onthe measured data stored to the converted data storing means to displaythe three-dimensional image of the spinal column on a display screen. 2.The human spinal column measuring and displaying system according toclaim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image of the spinal column isdisplayed by moving the image of the spinal column displayed on thedisplay screen in a predetermined direction or rotating the image by apredetermined angle based on a predetermined instruction.